Marijuana

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Marijuana

Marijuana is a plant product that is smoked or eaten to produce an altered state of mind or high. Marijuana impairs thinking, learning, judgment, lung and brain development in young people, concentration, and driving. One smoke inhalation of marijuana can stay in a person’s system for up to a week; therefore, can impair driving for days after smoking. Marijuana impairs thinking for up to 48 hours after using, even though the ‘high’ can be gone after a few hours.

With the rise of medical marijuana, the perceptions that marijuana is harmless and not additive are increasing. Marijuana remains a Federal Schedule I Drug, which means that the federal government doesn’t not recognize the medicinal use of marijuana and finds that marijuana has a high potential for abuse (NRS 453.166)

MythsMarijuana is not addictive (Parents the Anti Drug)

More teens are in treatment for marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined (SAMSHA, 2006)

THC, the mind alternating chemical substance in marijuana acts on the brain similar to other addictive substances that reduce the natural occurring chemicals in the brain resulting in the brain becoming dependant on THC to activate the natural occurring chemicals

There is nothing that parents and friends can do to stop youth from experimenting with marijuana

Talking to youth about the risks of marijuana

Staying involved with youth

Marijuana is harmless

Marijuana is the most widely used substance among youth today (theantidrug.com)

Marijuana is more potent today than it has been over the years since its popularity in the 1960s. In the 1970s the THC content was less than 1% and today the concentrations is 13% to 33% (Office of National Drug Control Policy, Marijuana Myths and Facts, 2003)

Marijuana creates apathy and decreases motivation

Risks of marijuana

“Teens who started using marijuana before age 15 are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression in early adulthood” (Abovetheinfluence.com)

“There are higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thinking among people who use marijuana when compared to people who don’t use” (Abovetheinfluence.com)

“A new study shows that smoking marijuana is associated with a 40% increase risk of psychosis, and the risk is greater among regular and frequent users” (Abovetheinfluence.com)

Smoking marijuana causes lung damage and leads to addiction

Statistics

Percentage of students who used marijuana one or more times during the past 30 days 2001 – 26.6%, 2003 – 22.3%, 2005 – 17.3%, 2007 – 15.5%, 2009 – 20.0% (Nevada Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Nevada Department of Education, 2009)